Of course, what I fear is that if I/we don't "fight" then the Earth will become uninhabitable for most of life as we now know it, and that human society, for what time it has left, will sink into fascism and brutality. Oh, yes, I do fear that very much. And yet, of course, I want that open place of peace and love to be an effective way to change that course. But is it? I don't know. I wish I did know. But I don't. Do you, Joan? Could you share more of how you see it? Thank you.
Ajahn Sumedho said that westerners were idealistic about meditation practice, as compared with Thai’s, who he noted, have an appreciation for human weakness. He said that amid all the chaos, he felt a sense that everyone belonged. I spent a week in Oaxaca recently and felt the same Amid all the poverty, people were always out in the street enjoying life. It is such a communitarian society that there are no stop signs in the downtown area because drivers considerately accommodate one another. It really struck me how competitive and acquisitive we are in the US, and of course, inner peace is another expected acquisition.
Mar 27, 2023·edited Mar 27, 2023Liked by Joan Tollifson
I think a conversation between the two of you would be really interesting if an opportunity arises. You are two women I admire a lot. Thanks for the engagement here.
My heart tells me that it is the nature of consciousness to make choices. Perhaps that could be better stated as it is the function of consciousness to make choices. We cannot change what is, what presents itself to us. It is what it is and rejecting or clinging to that is always painful. But consciousness responds to what is in all kinds of creative ways (perhaps there are no limits) to co-create this beautiful dance sometimes called interdependence or codependent arising. Both the sayings "You create your own reality" and "you have no choice; everything is as it has to be" are equally problematic to me.
Beautiful, thank you. I'd like to add that what accompanies the contracted "entitlement" stance is, however noble the intention to change what is "out there," there is inevitably an implied arrogance, an assumption that "I know how to help/change." We all know of at least one instance where one person "helping" another or one country "helping" another has had an opposite effect. This in itself can hopefully point one toward listening with one's inner senses and opening to what's true beyond us and them.
Chapter 7 of The Witch Trials of JK Rowling was released this week. Rowling responded brilliantly, I thought, to her critics and to specific criticisms they have made, and she gave voice to so many of my own thoughts on the trans issue, the state of the left, free speech, the importance of questioning our certainties and more. This is the last regular episode, but they promise an epilogue in about a month. Great podcast series!
Lest there be any doubt, I deeply love and appreciate LGBTQI people in all our playful, colorful, imaginative, wild and wondrous diversity and inclusivity. I certainly want an inclusive society that allows all of us the freedom to live in a way that feels authentic and comfortable, as long as it doesn’t harm others. I welcome the breaking down of gender binaries, a process I’ve participated in all my life.
But I do not believe that questioning how any social justice movement is framing their issues, what demands they are making, or what actions they are taking is automatically a form of bigotry. In fact, I think this kind of conversation, questioning and disagreement is vital, and the current attempt in different ways on both the right and the left to wipe out and silence opposing views is deeply concerning to me.
It is clear to me that Rowling speaks out of genuine concern for women and children, not out of bigotry against trans people. Burning her books and calling her a bigot is itself a form of bigotry, and there seems to be a disturbing misogyny behind some of the intense hatred of her (and so-called TERFs).
May we all learn to question our certainties and listen openly to opposing views. I don’t mean we need to give outright hate and blatant ignorance an equal voice in the social conversation, but someone like Rowling is clearly not coming from either hate or ignorance. You may disagree with her, and she may turn out to be wrong on some things, but her concerns are certainly well worth hearing and seriously considering.
I don’t believe trans people need to be so fearful of Rowling and others who raise genuine concerns about women and children. Of course, I understand that fear, because I understand what it’s like to be part of a minority group under attack—I came out back in the Dark Ages before Stonewall—and I’ve lived for many years, since childhood and before I had the labels, as a one-armed, gender nonconforming, lesbian. I seriously considered a gender transition and see myself as someone on the trans spectrum. But fear, hate, silencing people, burning or banning books, or re-wording published books to eliminate “offensive language,” isn’t the answer. It just isn’t. Both the left and the right are doing this in their different ways, and it’s not helping. Or at least, I don’t think it is.
Thank you Joan 🙏 You write so beautifully and eloquently.
Of course, what I fear is that if I/we don't "fight" then the Earth will become uninhabitable for most of life as we now know it, and that human society, for what time it has left, will sink into fascism and brutality. Oh, yes, I do fear that very much. And yet, of course, I want that open place of peace and love to be an effective way to change that course. But is it? I don't know. I wish I did know. But I don't. Do you, Joan? Could you share more of how you see it? Thank you.
Ajahn Sumedho said that westerners were idealistic about meditation practice, as compared with Thai’s, who he noted, have an appreciation for human weakness. He said that amid all the chaos, he felt a sense that everyone belonged. I spent a week in Oaxaca recently and felt the same Amid all the poverty, people were always out in the street enjoying life. It is such a communitarian society that there are no stop signs in the downtown area because drivers considerately accommodate one another. It really struck me how competitive and acquisitive we are in the US, and of course, inner peace is another expected acquisition.
I think a conversation between the two of you would be really interesting if an opportunity arises. You are two women I admire a lot. Thanks for the engagement here.
My heart tells me that it is the nature of consciousness to make choices. Perhaps that could be better stated as it is the function of consciousness to make choices. We cannot change what is, what presents itself to us. It is what it is and rejecting or clinging to that is always painful. But consciousness responds to what is in all kinds of creative ways (perhaps there are no limits) to co-create this beautiful dance sometimes called interdependence or codependent arising. Both the sayings "You create your own reality" and "you have no choice; everything is as it has to be" are equally problematic to me.
Beautiful, thank you. I'd like to add that what accompanies the contracted "entitlement" stance is, however noble the intention to change what is "out there," there is inevitably an implied arrogance, an assumption that "I know how to help/change." We all know of at least one instance where one person "helping" another or one country "helping" another has had an opposite effect. This in itself can hopefully point one toward listening with one's inner senses and opening to what's true beyond us and them.
There is action possible even in this expanded view I think I.e. you don’t have to be contracted to act.
Chapter 7 of The Witch Trials of JK Rowling was released this week. Rowling responded brilliantly, I thought, to her critics and to specific criticisms they have made, and she gave voice to so many of my own thoughts on the trans issue, the state of the left, free speech, the importance of questioning our certainties and more. This is the last regular episode, but they promise an epilogue in about a month. Great podcast series!
Lest there be any doubt, I deeply love and appreciate LGBTQI people in all our playful, colorful, imaginative, wild and wondrous diversity and inclusivity. I certainly want an inclusive society that allows all of us the freedom to live in a way that feels authentic and comfortable, as long as it doesn’t harm others. I welcome the breaking down of gender binaries, a process I’ve participated in all my life.
But I do not believe that questioning how any social justice movement is framing their issues, what demands they are making, or what actions they are taking is automatically a form of bigotry. In fact, I think this kind of conversation, questioning and disagreement is vital, and the current attempt in different ways on both the right and the left to wipe out and silence opposing views is deeply concerning to me.
It is clear to me that Rowling speaks out of genuine concern for women and children, not out of bigotry against trans people. Burning her books and calling her a bigot is itself a form of bigotry, and there seems to be a disturbing misogyny behind some of the intense hatred of her (and so-called TERFs).
May we all learn to question our certainties and listen openly to opposing views. I don’t mean we need to give outright hate and blatant ignorance an equal voice in the social conversation, but someone like Rowling is clearly not coming from either hate or ignorance. You may disagree with her, and she may turn out to be wrong on some things, but her concerns are certainly well worth hearing and seriously considering.
I don’t believe trans people need to be so fearful of Rowling and others who raise genuine concerns about women and children. Of course, I understand that fear, because I understand what it’s like to be part of a minority group under attack—I came out back in the Dark Ages before Stonewall—and I’ve lived for many years, since childhood and before I had the labels, as a one-armed, gender nonconforming, lesbian. I seriously considered a gender transition and see myself as someone on the trans spectrum. But fear, hate, silencing people, burning or banning books, or re-wording published books to eliminate “offensive language,” isn’t the answer. It just isn’t. Both the left and the right are doing this in their different ways, and it’s not helping. Or at least, I don’t think it is.
https://www.thefp.com/p/jk-rowling-addresses-her-critics
Thanks, Joan. <3